Travel toothbrush with toothpaste in handle

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides a travel toothbrush with a toothpaste dispenser. The handle has a toothpaste chamber defined in the handle, the chamber having a proximal opening adjacent a brush head and a distal opening at the free end of the handle. The distal opening is adapted for loading toothpaste into the toothpaste chamber and accommodating a plunger. The brush head is removably attached to the handle, and has a conduit communicating with the proximal end of the handle chamber, the conduit terminating in a discharge opening beneath the bristles. A resilient flapper valve is disposed in the brush head conduit, and is normally open so that the plunger may be used to force toothpaste through the handle onto the bristles. The toothbrush is provided with a removable cap having a stopper that slides into an axial bore in the brush head to force the flapper valve into a closed position.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is related to and claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/765,739, filed Feb. 07, 2006, entitled TRAVEL TOOTHBRUSH WITH TOOTHPASTE IN HANDLE, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

n/a

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to toothbrushes, and more specifically to a travel toothbrush having a toothpaste dispenser in the handle.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Normally people brush their teeth at home, storing their toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste In the bathroom or in the kitchen. However, when people travel, proper care of the teeth becomes problematical. Some travel cases are available for toiletries that include a carrying case for a toothbrush, but no provision is made for carrying a tube of toothpaste. Some toothbrushes are available that provide for storage of toothpaste, and even for dispensing toothpaste through the handle onto the bristles. However, such devices are often bulky, are not portable, or do not provide for easy cleaning of the toothpaste conduit through the handle. Further, with frequent use the bristles may become worn, and such toothbrushes do not provide for replacement of the brush head. Finally, portable toothbrushes are often not compact, and often no provision is made for securing the portable toothbrush in a pocket, so that the toothbrush does not have to be carried in luggage.

Thus, a travel toothbrush with a toothpaste dispenser in the handle solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The travel toothbrush with a toothpaste dispenser in the handle is designed for portable use. The toothbrush has a toothpaste chamber defined in the handle, the chamber having a proximal opening adjacent the brush head and a distal opening at the free end of the handle. The distal opening is adapted for loading toothpaste into the toothpaste chamber and accommodating a plunger. The brush head is removably attached to the handle, and has a conduit communicating with the proximal end of the handle chamber, the conduit terminating in a discharge opening beneath the bristles. A resilient flapper valve is disposed in the brush head conduit, and is normally open so that the plunger may be used to force toothpaste through the handle onto the bristles. The toothbrush is provided with a removable cap having a stopper that slides into an axial bore in the brush head to force the flapper valve into a closed position; and a clip for securing the toothbrush to a pocket for transport and storage. The brush head has a bore with internal threads for engaging a threaded proximal end of the handle, so that the brush head is replaceable.

These and other features of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a travel toothbrush with a toothpaste dispenser in the handle according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a partially exploded front view of the travel toothbrush according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a partially exploded side view of the travel toothbrush according to the present invention.

Similar reference characters denote corresponding features consistently throughout the attached drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, the present invention is a travel toothbrush with a toothpaste dispenser in the handle, designated generally, as 105 in the drawings, that has a toothpaste chamber 122 built into the handle 115. The toothpaste chamber 122 is refillable, and is preferably substantially cylindrical. The toothpaste chamber 122 should be capable of storing enough toothpaste to permit repeated use for at least ten times before a refill is required. The toothpaste chamber 122 has an open proximal end 125 and an open distal end 126. The handle 115 preferably has a frustroconical taper approaching the proximal end 125, which is externally threaded.

The distal opening 126 is adapted for loading toothpaste into the toothpaste chamber 122 and accommodating a plunger 110. An open, concave, semi cylindrical handle extension 120 may be provided for a platform-like support of the plunger 110 in various axial positions.

A brush head 130 has an axial bore 129 extending from a free end 133 to a handle attachment end 134, i.e., throughout an entire length of the brush head 130, a front surface 131 having bristles 132 extending therefrom, and a toothpaste outlet 135 defined in the front surface, preferably in, or proximal to, a middle region of the bristles 132, the outlet communicating with the axial bore 129. A resilient flapper valve 137 is hinged, e.g., by a living hinge, within the axial bore 129, and is normally open, as shown in FIG. 3, to block the passage of toothpaste through the axial bore between the toothpaste outlet 135 and the free end 133 of the brush head 130, leaving the toothpaste outlet open so that the plunger 110 can force toothpaste through the handle chamber 122 and axial bore 129 to exit toothpaste outlet 135 and coat the bristles 132 with toothpaste.

The axial bore 129 is internally threaded at the handle attachment end 131 in order to receive the externally threaded proximal end 125 of the handle 115, thereby joining chamber 122 to axial bore 129. This construction permits replacement of the brush head 130, and also allows the brush head 130 to be removed for cleaning the handle chamber 122 and the axial bore 129.

When toothpaste or other dentifrice, such as gel, liquid, tooth powder and the like, is loaded into the chamber 122 at the distal end 126, a sufficient insertion of the plunger 110 into the distal opening 126 causes the toothpaste to flow through the proximal opening 125, into the body aperture 129, and through the toothpaste outlet 135 onto the bristles 132.

In storage, a cap 140 having an open end 142 and an internally disposed stopper 150 slidable through axial bore 129 covers the brush head 130. The stopper 150 slides into axial bore 129, causing flapper valve 137 to pivot to a closed position covering and sealing toothpaste outlet 135. Thus, the cap 140 and flapper valve 137 are provided to block the toothpaste outlet 135 for the purpose of avoiding accidental discharge of the toothpaste, avoiding soiling of a person's pocket, and protecting the brush body 130 against dirt and germs, as well as keeping the toothpaste inside the chamber ever fresh and free from drying and contamination.

Additionally, the cap 140 may have a pocket clip 145 disposed along an outside wall of the cap 140 so that the toothbrush 105 may be clipped to one's shirt pocket, and the like.

Preferable dimensions of the toothbrush 105 without the cap 140 range from a width of approximately 1.3 to 1.6 cm at the handle 115, a width of approximately 1.0 to 1.3 cm at the brush head 130, and a length ranging from 13.5 to 16.5 cm. The travel toothbrush 105 may be made from plastic material, or from corrosion resistant metal alloys, if desired.

It is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, but encompasses any and all embodiments within the scope of the following claims. 

1. A toothbrush, comprising: a handle defining a chamber therein; a brush head coupled to the handle, the brush head defining an outlet in fluid communication with the chamber; and a flapper valve coupled to the brush head, the flapper valve positionable about at least a portion of the outlet.
 2. The toothbrush according to claim 1, further comprising a cap positionable about the brush head.
 3. The toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein the cap is engageable with the flapper valve.
 4. The toothbrush according to claim 3, wherein the cap includes a stopper positionable against the flapper valve to cause the flapper valve to cover the outlet.
 5. The toothbrush according to claim 2, wherein the cap includes a pocket clip.
 6. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the brush head further defines an axial bore in fluid communication with both the chamber and the outlet.
 7. The toothbrush according to claim 6, wherein the flapper valve is positioned within the axial bore.
 8. The toothbrush according to claim 1, further comprising a plunger positionable within at least a portion of the chamber.
 9. The toothbrush according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of bristles disposed on the brush head about the outlet.
 10. The toothbrush according to claim 1, wherein the brush head is removably coupled to the handle.
 11. A toothbrush, comprising: a handle defining a chamber therein; a brush head coupled to the handle, the brush head defining an axial bore in fluid communication with the chamber, the brush head further defining an outlet in fluid communication with the axial bore; a flapper valve disposed in the axial bore, the flapper valve positionable about at least a portion of the outlet; and a cap positionable about the brush head to engage the flapper valve.
 12. The toothbrush according to claim 11, wherein the cap includes a stopper positionable within at least a portion of the axial bore.
 13. The toothbrush according to claim 11, wherein the cap includes a pocket clip.
 14. The toothbrush according to claim 11, further comprising a plunger positionable within at least a portion of the chamber.
 15. The toothbrush according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of bristles disposed on the brush head about the outlet.
 16. The toothbrush according to claim 11, wherein the brush head is removably coupled to the handle.
 17. A travel toothbrush, comprising: a handle having an open proximal end and an open distal end, the handle being hollow and defining a toothpaste chamber extending from the proximal end to the distal end; a plunger insertable through the distal end of the handle and slidably disposed in the chamber; a brush head having a free end and a handle attachment end removably attached to the proximal end of the handle, the brush head having an axial bore extending from the free end to the handle attachment end, the axial bore communicating with the handle chamber when the brush head is attached to the handle, the brush head having a front surface having a toothpaste outlet defined therein communicating with the axial bore; a plurality of bristles disposed on the front surface of the brush head surrounding the toothpaste outlet; a resilient flapper valve pivotally disposed within the axial bore, the valve having a normally open position blocking the axial bore between the toothpaste outlet and the free end while leaving the toothpaste outlet open, and a closed position covering and sealing the toothpaste outlet; and a cap slidable over the brush head, the cap having an internally disposed stopper slidable within the axial bore when the cap is disposed over the brush head, the stopper bearing against and pivoting the flapper valve into the closed position. 